This has been mentioned in another thread...but...
Who's interested in getting together on the water somewhere in the Chesapeake this summer?
Depending on who is interested, when they are available, and where they are located, perhaps we can find a reasonably convenient place to raft up for a day.
I'm in Middle River, in the northern Chesapeake. I'm guessing there may be some interested parties further south.
An idea, and a location I'm pretty familiar with, is the Rhode River, just off the West River south of Annapolis. I figure it is a days sail from places around Middle River where I am, to Solomons down south, to Saint Michaels and other places on the Eastern shore. It's a big, easy anchorage with good protection and holding. There is a little island for dog walking, and while there isn't any direct access to provisioning, I think a few good places exist on the West River, and of course Annapolis is not that far away. There are certainly many other options as well.
Just an idea.
Sounds great. I've done a lot of the Chesapeake but wouldn't mind doing it again. Have to see how my shoulders work out- probably due for two surgeries.
Let's gab about it on the Thursday night chat
If my boat is ready. I'm in.
I plan to participate in any Chesapeake get together.
Not too hot weather, I hope, but after the warm air is here.
Norman
I'll try to be on Thursday night; but I work nights now-a-days, so I can only get on if things are dead quiet here, which is a poop-shoot.
It doesn't really matter to me when we do it. I think the best sailing is in September and October. Summer is a bit hot and still. But, any excuse to get on the water works for me. I hope to get the boat in the water as soon as possible; but I'm still working on some major projects so I'm not sure when the launch date will be.
I'm still interesting in bringing the trailer boat up. Maybe we can drop in on ya'll.
Can't commit though; lots going on here. Two teenagers is only the start of it. :D
I'd be interested in a meet up. I'm on the southern Chessy
I would be thrilled to be a part of this. Fayaway lives in Annapolis, and we've been to the Rhode River anchorage several times-it's one of our favorites, especially earlier and later in the season when it's not as crowded. She goes back in in April so I'm up for it any time (except Mother's day weekend-can't miss my own wedding!)
we have a chat session every Thursday evening at 1730 (cdt). Would be a good place to hash out plans, date, etc
I'm definitely interested, even if I can't get my boat down there. Might be able to scrounge up a local boat or come aboard with some of youse. Of course, I have no idea what I'll be doing in another month, much less later this summer but that's why its nice to have an idea, far in advance and plan ahead.
That said, if anyone wants to take a vacation up to Boston, I live near the airport and can host you. Come hang out and sail w/me!
is there a date yet for the group get to gether in the chesepeke
Quote from: jotruk on March 07, 2020, 01:47:51 PM
is there a date yet for the group get to gether in the chesepeke
Not yet. This is really just an idea more than a plan.
But, let's start to change that.
I propose we plan on meeting up on the Rhode River south of Annapolis. It's a large, easy anchorage. Alternatively, if most people are further north we can try Fairlee Creek (a pretty nice, well protected, somewhat shallow anchorage with an exciting entrance and perhaps too many party boats on nice weekends...north of the Bay Bridge on the Eastern Shore). If more people are further south, perhaps we can find someplace in the neighborhood of Solomon's Island (the mouth of the Patuxent River). I don't think I personally will have enough time off this year to go much further south than that (next year should be much better).
I further propose we do this in September. The weather starts getting more pleasant around then. However, if we have active cruisers who want to attend, chime in when you think you will be in the neighborhood, and perhaps we can choose a different month.
If someone is in the area without a boat, we can work on getting you on a boat. There are marinas in the neighborhood we can probably stage out of.
The Rhode River looks good. September is good for me; especially mid. First weekend is Labor Day. 2nd or 3rd weekend would be good for me. I'm scheduled to be in Stuart, FL 10/26. I'll be getting antsy by the end of September to head south.
As has been suggested, the Thursday night chats would be an ideal place to discuss this :)
The chat is great for chatting.
In my opinion, the value in having the discussion here, like this, is that the full discussion and historical details are easily accessible and even searchable. In addition, everyone can access and participate on their own time when it's convenient for them; regardless of work schedules or life commitments.
September in Rhode River sounds good. Especially at this point since it looks like everyone's sailing plans are being brought to a halt for a while-hopefully we'll have some resolution or at least a break by September.
Some good news: Recreational boating is once again allowed on the Chesapeake! I'm not sure why it was restricted anyhow (boats are pretty isolated...provided you aren't in a big raft up party). But, we appear to be good to go now.
So...further narrowing down a date...I propose we meet the weekend of September 19/20 on the Rhode River south of Annapolis.
Sounds good. I believe I'm in for that. Boat is still out of the water but I'm doing something wrong of we're not back in well before then.
I'm gonna try to attach a chart fragment showing the suggested location...
I was poking around using Aqua Maps and discovered that the Rode River anchorages are used by the SSCA boats during the Annapolis Gam. The Gam will be the following weekend, 9/25-27. This seems like a major snowbird stop. There will likely be boats there already on the 19th and 20th. The reviews say this is a very large open area. I would say we definitely don't want to do it any later and might even consider doing it the weekend previous, 9/12&13.
The SSCA moved their gam to the Maryland Yacht Club in Pasadena a couple years ago. We shouldn't have to compete with them. And while it's a nice anchorage, there really isn't much in the way of amenities there, so I wouldn't expect that many snowbirds. However, I'm not married to that date. We can do it the previous weekend if that makes sense. Voting is now open!
I've been to the gam when it was held there at Camp Letts and there was plenty of room for lots and lots of boats. That's one reason I suggested the location. There is a place to walk a dog on Big Island. I think the "Honeydipper" pump out boat still services the Rhode River. If people want shore side services, a little trip is necessary, but nothing outrageous. There are a couple marinas up Cadle Creek. Leave the Rhode River and head up West River and you come to Galesville which has a good anchorage, a public wharf with a park, a little deli/grocery store, a chandelery and a restaurant or two. Annapolis is also only a dozen or so mile away and is worth a visit.
Hopefully by September we will be more or less back to a normal life and not back in lock down mode.
:) I have overnighted in Rhode River before, good holding bottom, sheltered from most wind and waves for normal storms.
The weather is beginning to cool by then, but the water is about max for the summer, so a dip in the water is pleasant. I do not know about the present, but in the past, speed boat and skiing was less active than some of the nearby locations such as the South River.
I vote for the date and place.
Norman
Sounds like you have better information than I do. That works for me. I had found some apparently outdated info on Active Captain.
Let's do it!
I'm in for the 19th/20th at Rhode River. Hey, the boat might even back in the water by then! ::)
I might be able to trailer the US18 up. September is high 'cane season, tho, and if there is one anywhere near or heading this way, I'd have to call it off.
Looking at charts (here: https://www.charts.noaa.gov/BookletChart/12270_BookletChart.pdf ) and Goog maps, the water behind Big Island is 5-6' deep with not much around. Is that where you are talking about anchoring? Would probably be considered too skinny for most cruisers but more than enough for most of us (all?).
Will the Smithsonian folks get upset if there's loud partying with lotsa drinking and fighting and maybe smashing rum bottles and/or gunfire over there, as is likely?
;D
PS - Hey Avery, did you tie the knot or what? ;D
Quote from: CapnK on May 17, 2020, 05:46:49 PM
I might be able to trailer the US18 up. September is high 'cane season, tho, and if there is one anywhere near or heading this way, I'd have to call it off.
Looking at charts (here: https://www.charts.noaa.gov/BookletChart/12270_BookletChart.pdf ) and Goog maps, the water behind Big Island is 5-6' deep with not much around. Is that where you are talking about anchoring? Would probably be considered too skinny for most cruisers but more than enough for most of us (all?).
Will the Smithsonian folks get upset if there's loud partying with lotsa drinking and fighting and maybe smashing rum bottles and/or gunfire over there, as is likely?
;D
There's lots of room all over the place. Sure, we can do it behind the island. Or in front. Or down the river a little bit in another little "cove" that's there. I've been in all of them and they all work. I think the SSCA had 80 or more boats in this anchorage once, and there was still room. I rode out a hurricane Joaquin at anchor there in 2015. Happily, Joaquin went out to sea and we didn't get a direct strike; but it was still windy and unnerving. There is decent protection there.
As far as the Smithsonian goes, the wife and I were gently removed by federal police one year when taking an unauthorized walk at the Environmental Research Center. So long as we aren't shooting at them, they probably won't shoot back (although, this is Maryland, and there is a decided unfair prejudice against folks playing with toys that go "boom"). Otherwise, the drinking, fighting, and smashing rum bottles is called summer.
Quote from: CapnK on May 17, 2020, 05:48:45 PM
PS - Hey Avery, did you tie the knot or what? ;D
I sure did! We got lucky and all the pieces fell into place despite the current situation. Obviously it was a small ceremony-six people and three dogs, all at a safe distance! ;D
I like to sneak back into the cove past the little camp marina-usually fewer boats there and no one to mind some music and bottle smashing :P The whole anchorage is very protected. We weathered 20-30 knots from the north in November and were completely comfortable.
Congratulations. Wishing you well
Best wishes for both of you, Avery. These days, putting together such an event is an amazing challenge. I am glad you could do it.
Norman
Congrats on getting the Admiral to sign-on! Without a press gang, even... ;D Wishing you many many years of good and happy sailing together!!!
---
I'm thinking that the US18, though a nice sailing boat, is more oriented towards daysailing with 2-4 folks in the rather large cockpit. This means that despite the length of the boat, the cuddy is small and short, and ingress/egress is sort of a pain, with only a vertical opening. It's more of a storage space that you can fit into if you really want. Displacement is 550#'s or so, empty. There's a centerboard and trunk inside right at the aft end of the cuddy, and the mast is supported by the cabin top over that 'companionway', so there's not an easy way to mod it to 'fix' the drawbacks and make it more of a microcruiser, something that could do the Tx200, Fl120, a Keys trip maybe... :)
This would be about 1/4 of the weight and otherwise function pretty much the same. I could make it pretty quickly and easily, with a larger opening for access to the cuddy, keep the same lateen rig or make it into a lug easily. Hmmm...
Thanks for the good wishes. I'm a lucky guy and she mostly puts up with the boat stuff :D She even goes sailing with me sometimes!
Welp. I'm out.
In my amateur, semi-scientific opinion, we're in for a second wave of COVID. I've decided I didn't want to be caught out as a freelancer on a small boat if/when we get shutdown again or some other disruption. I've gone back to work in a 'real' job. This will delay the final push to get sv Ruth Ann back in the water.
I'm back on the road; probably thru Feb.
Quote from: Bubba the Pirate on June 30, 2020, 06:17:45 AM
Welp. I'm out.
In my amateur, semi-scientific opinion, we're in for a second wave of COVID. I've decided I didn't want to be caught out as a freelancer on a small boat if/when we get shutdown again or some other disruption. I've gone back to work in a 'real' job. This will delay the final push to get sv Ruth Ann back in the water.
I'm back on the road; probably thru Feb.
I'm sorry to hear that. This fall is a mystery as to how things will work out. I'm trying to be optimistic.
For the time being...still a go for September 19/20 if there is still interest.
I'm getting a new job which I think I can work around. COVID is still a thing, which might throw a wrench into the works. You never know about the odd hurricane that may come trippin' up the Chesapeake. But as of this moment, we are still a go.
Give a shout if it still looks good for all of you, or if this just isn't our year.
I would love to. BUT- My shoulder replacement surgery has been put on hold due to some thing called Covid. Seems it's elective and not critical :( :(
I'm still in for the moment-we'll see how things play out in the next month but as of now I feel we're relatively safe in Maryland.
Oh, look at that. September 19/20 is this coming weekend.
Crazer, I think you are the only one who seems optimistic this year. We should try this again next year without the whole pandemic thing happening.
I can sort of do it; but I just started a new job (this morning) so can't take the couple days for travel that I was expecting. Since you are in Annapolis, perhaps if you are still interested we can split the difference a bit and meet up on the Magothy somewhere. I wouldn't be leaving Middle River until Saturday morning.
darn - I wish I could go, but still fighting the back, AND the torn rotator cuff. And my lady friend who crewws with me is now living in San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
It came up fast didn't it? I've still got the Watkins 35 job hanging over me (translate: not paid yet), along with other work, and haven't had the chance to sort the daysailer out yet WRT outfitting it for over-nighting, and also important, ensuring the trailer is roadworthy of the drive.
Okay. Let's call it. Ain't gonna happen. This year has been nothing if not challenging. Let's plan the same time next year. One year notice. Let's Do It!
Maybe see how this winter goes and make it a spring fling thing...?
Spring. Fall. Let's do it over and over. Or at least get it done once.
sounds great-- I'll sure try